A
Maureen Frew, Digital Media Specialist
instructed students on their activity
during a weekly JAM meeting.
vonworth Primary Center JAM is taking
kindness to new heights. Overseen by
Maureen Frew, Digital Media Specialist at
Avonworth Primary Center, and Meghan
Kelly, second grade teacher, JAM helps
students give back to the less fortunate
through creative means.
In April 2016, first grade girls Julia ( J) and Amelia (A)
approached Maureen (M) to ask if the three of them could
start a group that makes things, sells the items and donates
the profits to charities—forming JAM, recounts Frew.
In the beginning, the group made very simple items
such as heart poppers (toilet paper tubes filled with tiny
hearts with a balloon on the end). “When the balloon is
pulled the hearts pop out,” explains Frew. “We made travel
games inside Altoid tins and 3D printed keychains. We
always set a limit of 100 and we always sold out.”
The girls make suggestions as to where to donate
the money—they research organizations and present
the information to the group. Then a vote is taken
to determine the beneficiaries. JAM has donated to
Children’s Hospital, Meals on Wheels, Ohio Township
Fire Department, Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh, Make-
a-Wish, the wig department at AGH, Caring Place, Animal
Friends, Susan G. Komen, Children’s Tumor Association,
Ronald McDonald House and many more.
“In April 2018, a kindergartener came to a meeting and
suggested we make a Tin Bin with kids characters inside so
kids would always have a friend,” says Frew. “One thing led
to another and the #bethekindkid t-shirt was born.”
The group thought they would sell 100, but in a few
short days, they sold more than 500 and had to outsource
the product because they couldn’t keep up with the
demand. To date, JAM has sold more than 18,000 shirts,
with profits going to various nonprofit organizations. “Our
logo has also become a registered trademark,” says Frew.
“Not bad for a group of kids ages 5 to 12!”
Anyone is welcome in JAM. The group was an all-girl
group until March, when seven boys joined. JAM now has
64 members in grades K through 6.
“Our community has accepted #bethekindkid with
open arms,” says Frew. “Our staff and students wear the
shirts every Wednesday for #wearitwednesday. However,
we stress to the students that if they wear the shirt, they
must be the shirt. Our cafeteria staff, school resource
JAM girls creating spring place mats for Meals
on Wheels at a weekly JAM meeting.
officers and bus drivers even wear the shirts. The Ohio
Township police department also has the #bethekindkid
logo on each of their police cars. Our local orthodontist, Dr.
Richard Dahar, has purchased shirts for many dentists and
orthodontists in the area. Several community businesses
have purchased class sets of shirts for different schools.”
In partnership with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh,
JAM was able to start four other JAMs. There is one
at Bellevue Elementary, Avalon Elementary, Elizabeth
Forward Greenock Elementary and New Castle Primary
Center. The group hopes to start five new JAMs per year.
For more information about Avonworth Primary Center
JAM, visit bethekindkid.net. n
“Our community has accepted #bethekindkid with open arms...”
SEWICKLEY
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SUMMER 2019
39